What We Know: Bill Cody, morning host of “Coffee, Country & Cody” on 650 WSM Nashville, passed away yesterday at the age of 67. Cody — born Trent Clutts — had helmed the morning show at the Opry Entertainment Group talk/classic country station since 1994, and served for decades as the voice of the Grand Ole Opry.
What They Said: WSM announced it will honor Cody with a special marathon of moments from “Coffee, Country & Cody.” Services have not yet been announced.
What We Know About His Career: Cody began his radio career in 1971 at WLBN Lebanon, KY at just 12 years old. He went on to WVLK Lexington in 1977, WHAS Louisville in 1979, and briefly hosted mornings at WCII Louisville in 1985 before moving to WHOO-FM Orlando. He spent seven years at 680 KKYX San Antonio from 1987 until joining WSM in 1994 — a post he held for more than 30 years.
Beyond WSM, Cody hosted the syndicated “GAC’s Classic Country Weekend With Bill Cody” and the television program “GAC’s Master Series.” He was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2008. He will be inducted posthumously into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame next month.
What It Means: Bill Cody was one of country radio’s most enduring voices — a rare talent who spent more than five decades in the business and built an institution at one of the format’s most storied stations. His posthumous Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame induction next month will serve as a final tribute to a career that touched nearly every corner of the format.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
